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WSET® Level 4 Wine > WSET® Level 4 D5 Fortified Wines > Rutherglen Muscat > Flashcards

Rutherglen Muscat Flashcards

Learn why Rutherglen Muscat tastes the way it does by examining the growing environment, soils, climate, grape varieties, production, and maturation.

1
Q

Why are there “house styles” of Rutherglen Muscat instead of an across-the-board, consistent style?

A

Because many of the wineries making Rutherglen Muscat are family owned and operated, making the wine the same way as they have for generations (some styles are lighter, some are luscious).

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2
Q

Today, roughly __ha of vines are planted for the production of Rutherglen Muscat.

A

70ha

See p.72 in the 2024 printing of the D5 material, last sentence of 3rd paragraph.

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3
Q

What is the climate of Rutherglen?

A

Continental

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4
Q

What helps cool down Rutherglen vineyards at night?

A

Downdrafts from the Victorian Alps

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5
Q

What helps the Muscat grapes in Rutherglen accumulate large amounts of sugar?

A
  • A warm growing season;
  • Long, dry autumns.
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6
Q

Muscat grapes for Rutherglen Muscat are harvested underripe, ripe, or extra ripe?

A

Extra ripe (with some grapes shriveling to achieve those raisiny aromas) AND ripe (to get fresh Muscat aromas)

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7
Q

Why is botrytis undesirable in Rutherglen Muscat?

A

The grape-y aromas of Muscat are what are desired, not the orange marmalade notes that botrytis lends

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8
Q

Which sub-variety of Muscat is used in Rutherglen Muscat?

A

Muscat à Petits Grains Rouges, aka Brown Muscat (it’s red skinned)

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9
Q

Muscat vines in Rutherglen tend to be trained how?

A

Double cordon with either VSP or a voluminous canopy over one foliage wire

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10
Q

What are some concerns for Rutherglen Muscat grape growers?

A
  • Sunburn;
  • Botrytis or rot if it rains in autumn.
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11
Q

Why aren’t Rutherglen Muscat grapes immediately pressed upon arrival at the winery?

A

The dense juice is difficult to extract from shriveled grapes, so they’re left to ferment briefly on their skins to break down the pulp and release the sugar and flavors.

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12
Q

Why are enzymes sometimes added to Rutherglen Muscat fermentation?

A

To aid extraction

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13
Q

Once Rutherglen Muscat juice attains 1-2% alcohol, what happens next?

A

Juice is drained → skins are pressed → both juices combined + fortified to ~17.5% ABV

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14
Q

The spirit used to fortify Rutherglen Muscat is ___% ABV.

Why is it so high?

A

96% ABV

To not dilute the wine (a lower strength spirit would need to be added in greater volume and would thus dilute the wine.)

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15
Q

Why is the fortifying spirit for Rutherglen Muscat neutral and not fuller in flavor?

A

To retain the purity of Muscat flavors

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16
Q

How are Rutherglen Muscats clarified?

A
  1. Racked off the lees;
  2. Light filtration.
17
Q

Rutherglen Muscats are typically aged in what type and size of vessel under what kind of conditions?

A

Old, neutral oak barrels of varying sizes in warm conditions

Barrel sizes:

  • Large round or oval barrels that hold 1300 - 9000L
  • Small barrels that hold 180-500L
18
Q

If a Rutherglen Muscat winemaker wants a slower maturation for his/her wine, what can they do in the winery?

A

Compartmentalize and insulate certain areas to remain a stable, cooler temperature throughout the year (helps with freshness).

Heat, barrel size, and humidity all contribute to faster maturation

19
Q

What do the smaller barrels in Rutherglen Muscat maturation promote (these barrels are typically very old)?

A
  1. Greater concentration through evaporation;
  2. More oxidation;
  3. Quicker maturation.
20
Q

What happens to a Rutherglen Muscat wine as it’s maturing in barrel?

A

Water evaporates from the oak vessels, concentrating and increasing sugar, alcohol, acidity levels to rise over time.

21
Q

What impacts the speed of maturation in Rutherglen Muscat?

A
  1. Size of the barrel;
  2. How hot the maturation area is;
  3. Humidity levels (drier will cause quicker evaporation).
22
Q

What kind of wine is made if Rutherglen Muscat is topped up more frequently?

And less frequently?

A

More frequently = fresher, less oxidative wine;

Less frequently = more oxidative flavors.

23
Q

Do Rutherglen Muscat producers top off their barrels as the wines evaporate or do they let them continue to concentrate?

A

Top up, some producers with greater or lesser frequency to create a house style.

24
Q

Rutherglen Muscats are generally vintage or non-vintage?

A

Non-vintage

25
Q

Rutherglen Muscats are typically blended or not blended?

A

Blended

26
Q

Blending is an important aspect of Rutherglen Muscat.

Explain what producers blend and why.

A

Producers will blend younger wines with older wines to achieve best balance of freshness, complexity and consistency year over year.

Some even use a solera system

27
Q

In what year was the Muscat of Rutherglen Network founded?

What does it promote?

A
  • 1995;
  • Promotes the sales of Rutherglen Muscat.
28
Q

What are the four classification tiers of the Muscat of Rutherglen Network?

A
  1. Rutherglen Muscat
  2. Classic Rutherglen Muscat
  3. Grand Rutherglen Muscat
  4. Rare Rutherglen Muscat
29
Q

What are the four tiers of Rutherglen Muscat based on?

A

Richness, complexity, intensity of taste (not age, though age is a major driver of style).

30
Q

Rutherglen Muscat

  1. Average age?
  2. Residual sugar?
  3. Color?
  4. Aromas + flavors?
  5. Quick SAT.
A
  1. 3-5 years;
  2. 180-240 g/L;
  3. Medium Amber to Tawny;
  4. Raisins, dates, figs, sweet spices;
  5. Sweet, Full Body, Med+ Acidity, Medium Alcohol.
31
Q

Classic Rutherglen Muscat

  1. Average age?
  2. Residual sugar?
  3. What starts to develop at this style level?
A
  1. 6-10 years;
  2. 200-280 g/L;
  3. Tertiary flavors start at this level.
32
Q

Grand Rutherglen Muscat

  1. Average age?
  2. Residual sugar?
  3. Aromas + flavors?
  4. Quick SAT.
A
  1. 11-19 years;
  2. 270-400 g/L;
  3. Brown, nutty, treacle, licorice;
  4. Sweet, Full Body, Med+/H Acidity.
33
Q

Rare Rutherglen Muscat

  1. Average age?
  2. Residual sugar?
A
  1. Minimum average age of 20 years (usually much older);
  2. 270-400 g/L.
34
Q

Are Rutherglen Muscats meant to age further in the bottle after they are released to market?

A

No. They will not improve with further aging and should be drunk within a year of release to enjoy them at their freshest.

WSET® Level 4 D5 Fortified Wines (8 decks)

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